Solid color knitting machine and method



Dec. 19, 1961 Filed Jan. 13, 1960 C. C. AUTON SOLID COLOR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. CLAUD C. AUTON ATTORNEYS Dec. 19, 1961 c. c. AUTON SOLID COLOR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1960 SKI QM.

m N W w T w m m U om mm A o s m@ C M s o s 5 s B Q 2: o m I v I Is I 1 @6 m flu w mfi New Q2 C m 9 Nu 8. m9 m9 mm V i. E pr 1 o Q 8w 9 s 6 Q o E 5 mm P Q N 0 no 5 .I. I m n mm 0 m w H .o E Q: NLNMM mm s 0 F by @m. Q N mow m o I S Am. a O Q WV 5 WV HQ C C C C O Q N Q} N I O 1 o s I Q S a I. I. 5% m mm +w E w mw BY nii ATTORNEYS Dec. 19, 1961 c. c. AUTON SOLID COLOR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 13, 1960 INVENTOR! CLAUb C. AuToN BY SAUIYI ATTORNEYS Dec. 19, 1961 c c, AUTON 3,013,415

SOLID COLOR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Jan. 13, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. CLALID C. AUTON mammIm m ATTORNEYS Dec. 19, 1961 Filed Jan. 13, 1960 c. c. AUTON 3,013,415

SOLID COLOR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Dec. 19, 1961 c. c. AUTON 3,013,415

SOLID COLOR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Jan. 15, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I Q 2 I Li I- J e F 7:12 I INVENTOR.

CLAUD C. AuToN ATTORNEY 5 Unit Patented Dec. 19, 1961 ice 3,013,415 SOLID COLGR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Claud C. Anton, Maiden, N.C., assignor to Wrightdfinit Hosiery Mills, Inc, Hickory, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Jan. 13, 1960, Ser. No. 2,254 12 Claims. (Cl. 66-43) This invention relates to improvements in circular independent needle knitting machines of the type having two knitting stations and adapted to knit hosiery and other fabrics containing reciprocatorily knit ornamental areas of what are known as solid color patterns and to an improved method of operating the same.

Solid color pattern knitting machines of the type presently available may be grouped in two general classifications which will be designated, for convenience, single feed machines and multiple feed machines. Typical solid color pattern knitting machines of the single feed type are shown and described in United States Patents Nos. 2,856,762; 2,860,499 and 2,860,500. In this type of machine, a single knitting station is provided and only a single group of needles is active whereby a single pattern area of the fabric is knit at a time. Upon completion or partial completion of the first knit pattern area, the needle cylinder is shogged to permit knitting of another pattern area which may be joined to the pattern area first knit. Knitting is carried out by reciprocating the needle cylinder to move the active group of needles through and equi-distantly past the single knitting station to knit a first pattern area and then shogging the needle cylinder to cause another group of active needles to move through and equi-distantly past the knitting station to knit another pattern area. This single feed type of solid color pattern knitting machine is capable of producing or knitting a wide range of patterns, however, the production rate is relatively low, particularly when knitting complex patterns since each separate pattern area must be knit in a separate operation.

A solid color pattern knitting machine of the multiple feed type is shown and described in United States Patent No. 2,217,022. This type machine is provided with a pair of knitting stations which are positioned diametrically opposite each other and adjacent the needle cylinder. This type of machine also is adapted to knit pattern areas while reciprocating the needle cylinder, however, during each swing or knitting stroke of the needle cylinder, every needle in the cylinder knits at least one time at either one or the other of the knitting stations and a complete course is formed with each knitting stroke. Diiferent yarns are fed to and knit by different groups of the needles in the cylinder and the partial courses of each pattern area are joined together to form the tubular fabric. Because this type of machine knits a complete course with each knitting stroke, the needles at the juncture of the different groups of needles knit two times and thereby tie together or join the different pattern areas. Thus, when the needle cylinder is swung in one direction, a given juncture needle will knit a given yarn first and with the reverse swing of the needle cylinder, the juncture needle will knit the given yarn last. Because the juncture needle knits the yarn of one group first with movement of the cylinder in one direction and this same yarn knits last with movement of the cylinder in the opposite direction, the suture line joining two adjacent pattern areas is rough or uneven and stitches formed of the yarn from one pattern area appear in the adjacent pattern area. The production rate of this type multiple feed solid color pattern knitting machine is normally much faster than the production because a complete course is knit with each swing of the the needle cylinder while only a partial course of a single pattern area is knit with each swing of the needle cylinder in a single feed knitting machine. However, the pattern range of the multiple feed type knitting machine is more limited than the pattern range of the single feed solid color pattern machine because the number of diit'erent colored yarns which may be inserted during a single reciprocatory course is limited by the number of times the yarn feeding fingers at the two yarn feeding stations may be introduced and removed from knitting position.

There is presently available another type of multiple feed solid color pattern knitting machine which is known as the Coile or CKA machine manufactured by Textile Machine Works of Wyomissing, Pa. This machine is provided with four separate knitting stations which are spaced equi-distant from each other around the needle cylinder. This machine is adapted to knit solid color patterns by employing either of two methods. In one method a complete course is formed with each swing of the needle cylinder with the needles in selected groups knitting at selected ones of the four knitting stations during each reciprocation of the needle cylinder to form joined together partial courses of each of the pattern areas. In the second method partial courses of a first pair of opposite pattern areas are knit at a first pair of opposite knitting stations with the second pairof knitting stations remaining inactive during a predetermined number of swings of the needle cylinder and then the first pair of knitting stations remain inactive while the second pair of knitting stations are active to knit partial courses of a second pair of pattern areas which are positioned between the first pair of pattern areas knit and the partial courses of the second pair of pattern areas are joined to the partial courses of the previously knit first pattern areas. This second method of knitting on the CKA machine is known as the fill-in system and provides a wider pattern range than the first method in which a complete course is knit with each reciprocation. In the fill-in system, smooth suture lines are formed between adjacent pattern areas because partial courses of spaced apart pattern areas are completed before the partial courses of the joining pattern areas are knit. However, this type machine is very expensive to purchase and requires an excessively long time to change a pattern since it is provided with pattern drums on five dilferent levels and very few knitting machine fixers or mechanics have experience in changing patterns on this type of machine.

With the foregoing in mind, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide improvements in two feed solid color knitting machines of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,217,022 and an improved method of operating the same wherein an alternate progression system of knitting solid color patterns is employed and which system comprises knitting on at least two groups of needles to form partial course pattern areas during a predetermined number of knitting strokes of the needle cylinder and during subsequent knitting strokes knitting at least two other groups of needles to form other partial course pattern areas which may be joined to the first partial course pattern areas knit during the preceding knitting strokes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved two feed solid color pattern knitting machine and an improved method of operating the same wherein smooth suture lines between adjacent pattern areas may be obtained and the pattern being produced may by changed in a shortperiod o f time by knitting machine fixers already familiar with this type of machine.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved two feed solid color pattern knitting machine and method of operating the same wherein existing two feed solid color pattern knitting machines may be easily and economically modified to produce a wide range of patterns of the type which now may only be produced by much more complicated and expensive knitting machines.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide novel means for controlling the changing of the yarn feeding fingers at both of the yarn changing stations and which means includes stop members positioned above the yarn finger control levers and pattern controlled means for shifting the stop members transversely of the levers to at times block operation of selected ones of the levers.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an improved method of knitting on a two feed solid color circular knitting machine wherein partial courses of selected pattern areas are formed at the knitting stations during a predetermined number of knitting strokes and then partial courses of other pattern areas are formed at the knitting stations and joined to the partial courses of the first pattern areas during subsequent knitting strokes to thereby produce a solid color pattern fabric in which a plurality of pattern areas appear in each course.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of the upper portion of a two feed solid color pattern knitting machine of the type which is employed to carry out the present invention and showing the improved yarn feeding finger control means associated therewith;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the knitting machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the yarn change levers at the auxiliary knitting station, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 3 in FIGURE 2, and showing the improved means for controlling operation of the yarn feeding fingers;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the yarn change levers a the main knitting station, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 4 in FIGURE 2 and showing the improved means for controlling operation of the yarn feeding fingers;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view through the two yarn feeding stations, taken substantially along the line 5-5 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation of a sock illustrating one type of solid color pattern which may be knit in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of that portion of the sock enclosed by the dash-dot rectangle indicated at 9 in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic view looking downwardly on the needle cylinder and schematically illustrating the method of knitting partial courses on certain selected groups of needles during a counterclockwise knitting stroke of the needle cylinder.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 except showing the method of knitting partial courses on other selected groups of needles during a succeeding clockwise knitting stroke of the needle cylinder; and

FIGURE 12 is a schematic view of the cams surrounding the needle cylinder, looking outwardly from inside the needle cylinder, and showing the paths of travel of the needles during a counterclockwise knitting stroke of the needle cylinder.

The present invention is shown associated with a two feed solid color pattern knitting machine of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned United States Patent No. 2,217,022, which is manufactured by the Hemphill Company and known as their model SCP. The yarn changing mechanism of this machine has been modified in order to carry out the improved method of knitting disclosed in the present application and to thereby provide a much wider range of patterns than has heretofore been available on this type machine. Reference may be made to Patent No. 2,217,022 for a detailed description of conventional parts of the machine which are not changed by the present invention.

Briefly, the two feed machine shown in Patent No. 2,217,022 is provided with means to reciprocate the needle cylinder, two knitting stations, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers at each knitting station, means for changing the yarn feeding fingers during knitting and needle selecting means adapted to select certain needles or groups of needles to pass through and form sitches at one knitting station while selecting other needles to pass through and form stitches at the other knitting station. The nonselected needles pass beneath the stitch cams at the knitting stations and do not draw stitches or take yarns.

As has heretofore been stated, the type of machine disclosed in Patent No. 2,217,022 knits a complete course during each knitting stroke of the needle cylinder while certain groups of the needles take and knit certain yarns and other groups of needles take and knit other yarns. On the other hand, in the method disclosed in the present application, less than a complete course is knit during each knitting stroke of the needle cylinder and selected groups of needles take and knit selected yarns while other groups of needles remain inactive and pass beneath the stitch cams at both knitting stations for a predetermined number of knitting strokes. Then during a subsequent knitting stroke of the needle cylinder, the groups of needles which were active are made inactive and the groups of needles which were previously inactive are made active. For simplicity, the improved method of knitting solid color patterns disclosed in the present application will be referred to as an alternate progression system or method. Also, the name aptly describes the method of knitting wherein partial courses of two or more pattern areas are knit before corresponding partial courses of the remaining pattern areas.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, the knitting machine includes a frame indicated broadly at 10 which supports a bed plate 11 and a needle cylinder 12 which is mounted for rotation and reciprocation in the bed plate 11. The needle cylinder 12 is slotted to receive a selector jack J and a latch needle N which are mounted for vertical sliding movement in the slots (FIG- URE 12).

The machine is also provided with the usual stitch cam plate 14 which surrounds the needle cylinder 12 and supports the usual main and auxiliary stitch cam blocks broadly indicated at 20 and 21 respectively, in FIGURE 1. Referring to FIGURE 12, it will be noted that the main knitting cams 20 include a right-hand stitch cam 22, a left-hand stitch cam 23 and a center cam 24 while the auxiliary knitting cams 21 include a right-hand stitch cam 25, a left-hand stitch cam 26 and a center cam 27. The stitch cams are at times engageable by the butts of the needles N to cause the needles to be raised to take yarn and then to be lowered to draw stitches, in a manner to be later described.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, a sinker head 30 surrounds the upper end of the needle cylinder 12 and contains the usual radially movable sinkers which cooperate with the needles in forming stitches and shedding the fabric after the stitches have been formed in a conventional manner. A latch ring 31 is positioned above the sinker head 30 and is provided with main and auxiliary yarn feeding stations indicated broadly at 32 and 33 respectively, in FIGURES 2 and 12. The yarn feeding stations 32 and 33 each have a plurality of independently operable yarn feeding fingers which are movable into and out of yarn feeding position in a manner to be later described.

The bed plate 11 supports a plate 40 which in turn rotatably supports selector drums 41 through 44 spaced around the needle cylinder 12 (FIGURES 1 and 2). The selector drums 41-44 are provided with outwardly projecting butts which are arranged in a predetermined order and operate conventional levers to control operation of groups of respective jack selectors 46 through 49. It will be noted in FIGURE 12 that the inner ends of the jack selectors of the groups 46 through 49 are positioned closely adjacent the needle cylinder and when they are moved inwardly they will engage selected butts on the jacks J and raise the same high enough so that their lower butts engage corresponding jack raising earns 46 through 49'. The groups of selector jacks 46 and 48 are active when the needle cylinder is swung in a counterclockwise direction and the groups of selector jacks 47 and 49 are active when the needle cylinder is swung in a clockwise direction. The selector drums 41-44 are rotated in a conventional step-by-step manner during the knitting of the pattern area of the fabric by respective operating pawls broadly indicated at 5053, respectively.

Referring to FIGURES 10 and ll, it Will be noted that each of the yarn feeding stations 32 and 33 is provided with a plurality of yarn feeding fingers a-g and a--g', respectively. Each of the yarn feeding fingers at the main yarn feeding station 32 is pivotally mounted as at 56 (FIGURE while each of the yarn feeding fingers at the auxiliary yarn feeding station 33 is pivotally mounted as at 57. The yarn feeding fingers at the yarn feeding stations 32 and 33 are normally urged into operative or feeding position by respective tension springs 60 and 61 which are connected at their lower ends to each of the fingers. The yarn feeding fingers ac and e-g at the main yarn feeding station 32 are engaged by the inner ends of intermediate levers 62 (FIGURE 5) which are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends as at 63 in the upper end of a yarn lever control column 65, the lower end of which is suitably supported on the plate 40.

Operation of the intermediate levers 62 is at times controlled by control wires 66 which are connected at their upper ends to the outer ends of the intermediate levers 62 and their lower ends are connected to suitable levers, not shown, which are operated by cams on a conventional pattern drum, not shown. During knitting of the pattern areas of the hosiery, the intermediate levers 62 and their yarn feeding fingers ac and e-g are normally controlled by respective yarn control levers A-C and EG (FIGURES 4 and 6). The inner ends of the yarn control levers A-C and EG engage the outer ends of the intermediate levers 62 while the outer ends of the yarn control levers engage a yarn control drum 70 and suitable cams 71 positioned thereon (FIG- URE 5). The yarn control levers A-C and EG are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on a shaft 72 which is suitably supported in brackets secured on the upper end of the yarn lever control column 65.

The yarn lever control drum 70 is mounted on a shaft 75 (FIGURE 2) which is rotatably supported adjacent opposite ends in the upper ends of a pair of upstanding support brackets 76 and 77, the lower ends of which are suitably supported on the plate member 41 The rear end of the shaft 75 has a bevel gear 80 fixed thereon which mates with a bevel gear 81 fixed on one end of a drive shaft 82 (FIGURE 2). The drive shaft 82 is rotatably supported in the upper ends of upstanding support brackets 83 and 84, the lower ends of which. are suitably secured to the support plate 40. The drive shaft 82 is rotated by a sprocket 85 which is fixed on the drive shaft 82. Rotation is imparted to the sprocket 85 by means of a sprocket chain 86 which is in turn driven from the conventional drive of the knitting machine, not shown.

The yarn feeding fingers a'--g' at the auxiliary yarn feeding station 35 (FIGURE 5) are each engaged by the inner ends of intermediate levers 92 which are pivotally mounted as at 93 in the upper end of a yarn lever control column 95, the lower end of which is suitably supported on the plate 40. The intermediate levers 92 are at times operated by control wires 26 which are connected at their upper ends to the outer ends of the intermediate levers 92 and their lower ends are connected to suitable levers, not shown, which are operated by cams on a conventional pattern, not shown.

During knitting of the pattern areas of the hosiery, the yarn feeding fingers a'g' are moved into and out of operative or yarn feeding position by rocking the intermediate levers 92 by means of corresponding yarn control levers AG (FIGURES 3 and 7). The inner ends of the yarn control levers engage the outer ends of the intermediate levers 92 while the outer ends of the yarn control levers engage a yarn control drum and suitable cams 101 positioned thereon (FIGURE 5). The yarn control levers A'--G' are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on a shaft 102 (FIGURE 5) which is suitably supported in brackets secured on the upper end of the yarn lever control column 95.

The yarn lever control drum 100 (FIGURES 1 and 2) is mounted on a shaft 165 which is rotatably supported adjacent opposite ends in the upper ends of a pair of upstanding support brackets 106 and 107, the lower ends of which are suitably supported on the plate 40. The rear end of the shaft has a bevel gear 110 fixed thereon which mates with a bevel gear 111 fixed on one end of the drive shaft 82 (PTGURE 2). The drive shaft 82 is rotated in timed relation to operation of the machine so that the yarn control drums 70 and 109 make one complete revolution each time the needle cylinder makes one reciprocation or a knitting stroke in both directions.

The parts heretofore described are conventional parts of a two feed solid color pattern knitting machine of the type shown in United States Patent No. 2,217,022 and it is with improvements in this particular type of machine that the present invention is concerned. The conventional driving mechanism of the knitting machine is set up to reciprocate the needle cylinder during knitting of the pattern areas of hosiery and to rotate the needle cylinder during the knitting of the top or cuff and foot. When the needle cylinder is reciprocated, the needle cylinder swings one and three-quarters revolutions in a counterclockwise direction and then a like amount in a clockwise direction. Also, the selector drums 41-44 are racked one step in rotation at the end of each clockwise swing of the needle cylinder, when looking downwardly on the machine as shown in FIGURE 2, and the yarn feeding fingers at both the main and auxiliary yarn feeding stations 32 and 33 are changed at the end of the clockwise swings of the needle cylinder.

As has heretofore been stated, in conventional operation of the machine, all of the needles N in the cylinder pass through and draw stitches at one or the other of the knitting earns 29 or 21 and the suture needles pass through both sets of knitting cams during each knitting stroke to thus knit a complete course with each knitting stroke. When the needle cylinder is swinging in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated in'FIGURE 12, the jack selectors 46 raise certain of the jacks I so that they will be further raised by the jack cam 46 and thereby -raise their corresponding needles N high enough so that their butts will engage and pass over the right-hand stitch cam 22. The raised needles will pick up yarn in their books from the active feeding fingers at the main yarn feeding station 32 and then form stitches with this yarn as the needles are lowered by the left-hand stitch cam 26. The needles above the jacks J, that are not raised by the jack selectors 46 and cam 46 remain in a lowered position so that their butts pass beneath the right-hand stitch cam 22 and these needles do not knit at the main knitting earns 20. Also, during counterclockwise knitting strokes of the needle cylinder 12, the jack selectors 48 and jack cam 48 raise certain of the jacks I so that the butts of corresponding needles engage the right-hand stitch cam 25 and pass upwardly to raise the needles high enough that their hooks pick up the yarn fed at the auxiliary yarn feeding station 33, these needles are then lowered to draw stitches as their butts pass beneath the left-hand stitch cam 26. The non-selected jacks I and corresponding needles remain in a lowered position and do not draw stitches at the auxiliary knitting earns 21.

When the needle cylinder 12 is swung in a clockwise direction and the needles move from left to right in FIGURE 12, the jack selectors 49 and 47 are activated to select certain jacks I to raise their corresponding needles N so that they pass through the respective auxiliary and main knitting cams 21 and 22. The selected needles take and form stitches from the yarns fed at the corresponding yarn feeding stations 33 and 32 while the non-selected jacks remain in a lowered position and their corresponding needles N pass beneath the left-hand stitch cams 26 and 23 and remain in inactive position.

It should be pointed out that, in conventional operation of this two feed solid color knitting machine, all of the needles in the cylinder 12 pass through and form stitches at either one or the other of the sets of knitting stations 20 or 21 during each knitting stroke of the needle cylinder, thus forming a complete course with each knitting stroke of the needle cylinder. Also, during conventional operation of the machine, all body yarns are fed at the main yarn feeding station 32 and only the pattern yarns are fed at the auxiliary yarn feeding station 33.

In order to operate a machine of the type heretofore described in such a manner that less than a complete course is knit with each knitting stroke or swing of the needle cylinder, it has been necessary to provide some means for at times blocking or otherwise preventing the usual operation of certain of the yarn feeding fingers. In FIGURES l, 2, 4 6 and 7, the means for at times preventing operation of certain of the yarn feeding fingers at the yarn feeding stations 32 and 33 is shown. The means for preventing operation of certain of the yarn feeding fingers at the main yarn feeding station 32 includes a pattern disk 120 (FIGURE 4) which is fixed on the upper end of the selector drum 41 and has a plurality of outwardly extending spaced apart butts 121 arranged around its outer periphery. The outer periphery of the disk 120 is engaged by the free or reading end of a control lever 122 which is fixed at its other end to the lower end of a vertical control shaft 123.

The shaft 123 is supported for oscillation adjacent its lower and upper ends in the free ends of respective arms 124 and 125 which are connected at their other ends to opposite ends of a vertical bracket 126. The bracket 126 is suitably secured to the front side of the upstanding support bracket 76 (FIGURE 1). The upper end of the vertical control shaft 123 is bent at right angles (FIGURE 4) to form a horizontal portion 127 which extends outwardly and is pivotally connected as at 130 to one end of a connecting link 131. The other end of the connecting link 131 is pivotally connected as at 132 to one end of a plate 133, the other end of which is fixed on the forward end of a horizontal control shaft 134. The shaft 134 is supported for transverse sliding movement above the yarn finger control levers AC and E-G in the upper ends of a pair of upstanding support plates 135 and 136, the lower ends of which are suitably secured to the front and rear surfaces of the yarn lever control column 65.

The rear end of the control shaft 134 has a stop plate 137 fixed thereon and the plate 137 supports a pair of forwardly extending guide pins 14!} and 141 which slidably engage opposite sides of the upper end of the upstanding support plate 136 and prevent rotation of the 8 control shaft 134. The control shaft 134 is urged forwardly or toward the observer in FIGURE 4 by a tension spring 142, one end of which is suitably connected to the plate 133 and the other end of which is suitably connected to the arm A plurality of spaced apart stop members -153 are adjustably secured to the control shaft 134 and their lower ends terminate above the inner ends of certain of the yarn control levers. When the control shaft 134 is positioned as shown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 6, the stop members 150153 are positioned above and prevent operation of the respective yarn control levers A, C, E and G, leaving the levers B and F free to operate. When the selector drum 41 and the pattern disk 12% are moved a step in rotation from the position shown in FIGURE 4, the lever 122 will move up on one of the outwardly projecting butts 121 and move the control shaft 134 rearwardly or away from the observer in FIGURE 4 and po sition the stop members 151 and 153 above and in alinement with the yarn control levers B and F. Shifting the control shaft 134 to the left from the position shown in FIGURE 6 will prevent operation of the levers B and F and allow the previously blocked yarn control levers A, C, E and G to be operated. Since the selector dmm 41 and the pattern disk 120 move a step in rotation at the end of each clockwise knitting stroke, the free end of the lever 122 will remain in engagement with an outwardly projecting butt 121 for one counterclockwise and one clockwise knitting stroke of the needle cylinder. With the next step in rotation of the drum 41, the free end of the lever 122 will move off of the butt 121 and shift the control shaft 134 back to the position shown in FIGURE 6 for one counterclockwise and one clockwise knitting stroke of the needle cylinder. The arrangement of butts on the pattern disk 120 thus causes the control shaft 134 to remain in one position for two knitting strokes and then shift to another position for two knitting strokes. Of course, this shifting arrangement may be varied as desired by varying the arrangement of outwardly projecting butts on the pattern disk 120.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 3 and 7, the upper end of the selector drum 44 has a pattern disk secured thereto and the disk 160 is provided with spaced apart long outwardly extending butts 161 and medium length outwardly extending butts 162. The free end of a lever 163 engages the outer periphery of the pattern disk 160 and is fixed on the lower end of a vertically disposed control shaft 164. The control shaft 164 is mounted for oscillation adjacent its upper and lower ends in a bracket 165 which is suitably connected to the inner face of the upstanding support bracket 106. The upper end of the control shaft 164 is bent at right angles to provide a horizontal portion 166, the outer end of which is pivotally connected as at 167 to one end of connector rod 170. The other end of the rod 170 is fixed in the outer end of a plate 171 and the inner end thereof is fixed on the forward end of a first horizontal control shaft 172. The control shaft 172 is mounted for transverse sliding movement above the yarn control levers A'--G in the upper ends of upstanding bearing plates 173 and 174, the lower ends of which are suitably secured at the opposite sides of the yarn lever control column 95.

A compression spring surrounds the forward end of the control shaft 172 and normally urges the same towards the observer in FIGURE 3 and movement of the shaft 172 is limited by a stop collar 181 which engages the outer surface of the plate 173 when the free end of the lever 163 is not in engagement with either of the butts 161 or 162 on the pattern disk 160. The first horizontal control shaft 172 has a plurality of spaced apart stop members 132--185 adjustably secured thereto and the lower ends of the stop members terminate closely above and in alinement with certain of the yarn control levers AG. In FIGURE 7, the stop members 182-185 are positioned above and block operation of the respective yarn control levers B, C, E and F and the lever 163 is not on either of the butts 161 or 162 of the pattern disk 166'. When the lever 163 engages one of the long butts 161, the stop members 182-185 will be moved a full step to the right in FIGURE 7 so that they block operation of the yarn control levers A, B, I) and E. When the lever 16?) engages one of the medium butts 162, the stop members 182-435 will be moved a half step to the right in FIGURE 7 so that they block operation of the yarn control levers A, C, D and F.

The upper end of the selector drum 44 also has a pattern disk 190 fixed thereto (FIGURE 3) which is provided with removable outwardly projecting pattern butts 1191 around the outer periphery thereof. The free end of a lever 192 engages the outer periphery of the pattern disk 19! and its other end is fixed on the lower end of a vertical control. shaft 193. The vertical control shaft 135 is mounted for oscillation in arms 194 and 195, which are suitably supported on opposite ends of a bracket 1%. The bracket 196 is in turn secured on the front surface of the upstanding support bracket 106 and the upper end of the control shaft 193 is bent at right angles to provide a horizontal portion 197 The outer end of the horizontal portion 197 is pivotally connected as at 280 to one end of a control link 201, the other end of which is fixed in the outer end of a plate 262. The inner end of the plate 292 is fixed on the forward end of a horizontally disposed, laterally shiftable or transversely movable second control shaft 203. The shaft 263 is mounted for transverse slidingmovement above the yarn control levers A-G and supported in the upper ends of the upstanding bearing plates 173 and 174.

A compression spring 20 1 surrounds the forward end of the control shaft 293 and normally urges the same toward the observer in FIGURE 3 or to the left in FIGURE 7 so that when the free end of the lever 192 is not on one of the butts 191 on the pattern disk 190, a stop collar 265, which is fixed on and adjacent the rear end of the control shaft 203, engages the outer surface of the upstanding bearing plate 173. The control shaft 203 will be in the position shown in FIGURE 7 when the free end of the lever 192 is in engagement with one of the outwardly projecting butts 191 on the pattern disk 190. When the end of the lever moves off of the butt 191, the spring 294 will shift the control shaft to the left in FIGURE 7. A plurality of spaced apart stop members 267, 208 and 289 are adjustably secured on the control shaft 203 and the lower ends of the stop members 207 and 209 terminate closely above the respective yarn control levers A and G to block or prevent operation of these yarn control levers when the control shaft is in the position shown in FIGURE 7.

Method of operation The improved method of operating the machine disclosed in this application will be described in connection with the knitting of the sock indicated at S in FIGURE 8. This particular sock has a Simple arrangement of solid color diamonds on opposite sides of the leg portion, however, it is to be understood that with slight changes in operation of the yarn changing controls and needle selection means, other and more complicated patterns may be knit While utilizing the improved method disclosed in this application.

In knitting the sock S shown in FIGURE 8, the machine operates in rotary knitting to knit the top or cuff 210 while incorporating an elastic yarn therein in the conventional manner and the knitting of the top or cuff 21% may be carried out by single feed knitting wherein all of the needles N pass through and draw stitches at the main knitting cams 20 while passing beneath the auxiliary knitting cams 21. The ring courses 211, above the first diamond-shaped pattern area 212, are also knit at the main knitting cams 20 while the needle cylinder is rotated.

Referring to the enlarged fabric shown in FIGURE 9,

10 the course indicated at 1 is the last circular or rotary course of the ring courses 211 while the needle cylinder is traveling in a counterclockwise direction and a yarn B-e is fed from the yarn feeding finger e at the main feeding station 32 to all of the needles in the cylinder. The machine then shifts into reciprocatory knitting and with the first clockwise knitting stroke of the needle cylinder, the yarn Be is fed to all the needles to form the stitch loops in wales 1-16 of the course 2.

During the next counterclockwise and clockwise knitting strokes of the needle cylinder, the stitch loops at opposite sides of the diamond area 212 are formed in the courses 3 and 4, the partial courses to the left of the diamond area being formed of a yarn B-d fed to the needles from feeding finger d at the auxiliary feeding station 33 and the partial courses to the right of the diamond area 212 being formed of the yarn B-e fed to the needles from the feeding finger e at the main feeding station 32.

Before the next counterclockwise and clockwise knitting strokes, the free end of the lever 163 (FIGURE 3) will move onto one of the long butts 161 on the pattern disk to thus shift the control shaft 172 a full step to the rear and move the stop members 182-485 to the right of the position shown in FIGURE 7 to free the yarn control levers C and F for operation. The yarn control drum 1% then causes the corresponding yarn feeding fingers c and f to be moved to operative position and in timed relation to the needle cylinder so that the finger c feeds yarn P-c to the needles which knit the first diamond area 212 and the finger f feeds another yarn to the needles which knit the corresponding diamond, not shown on the other side of the sock S.

The above sequence of knitting is repeated through course 7 with two partial courses at opposite sides of the diamond area 212 being knit first and then two partial courses of the diamond areas being knit. It will be noted in FIGURE 9 that the needles along the edge of the diamond area 212 form stitches of both the body and pattern yarns to tie the fabric together. Referring to FIGURE 10, it will be noted that the yarn feed fingers e and d are in active position to feed respective yarns B-e and Bd to the needles in spaced apart groups indicated at BM and BA while the yarn feed fingers c and 7" are inactive and the needles in the groups indicated at D1 and D2 are holding previously knit stitches thereon. After the cylinder swings in both directions with the fingers positioned as shown in FIGURE 10, the yarn feed fingers change so that the fingers c and f are active while the fingers d and e are inactive during the next two knitting strokes of the cylinder. In FIG- URE 11, the needle cylinder is swinging in a clockwise direction and the finger c has fed the yarn P-c' to the needles in group D-1 as they passed the auxiliary feeding station. The finger c was then moved to inactive position and the finger f moved to active position to feed the yarn P-f to the group of needles D2. While the two partial courses are being knit on the needles in groups D1 and 11-2, the fingers e and d are blocked from operation by the respective stop members 152 and 184 engaging the respective yarn control levers E and D (FIGURES 6 and 7) and the needles in groups BA and BM hold the previously formed stitch loops thereon (FIGURE 11). Thus, FIGURE 10 illustrates the knitting of partial courses on the needles in groups BA and BM and FIGURE 11 illustrates the knitting of partial courses on the needles in groups D1 and D2.

In the alternate progression system of knittingherein disclosed, portions of the pattern area are knit ahead of other portions of the pattern area. For example, four knitting strokes of the needle cylinder are required to complete the courses 4 and 5 of FIGURE 9 and in the first two knitting strokes, the portions of these courses at opposite sides of the diamond area 212 are knit first and then during the next two knitting strokes the partial courses of the diamond area 212 are knit and joined to the previously knit partial courses. Although the present alternate progression system of knitting is described in connection with alternately knitting two partial courses in alternating pattern areas, it is to be understood that more than two partial courses could be knit in the first knit pattern areas and then a like number of partial courses could be knit in other pattern areas, if desired.

Knitting in the above manner continues with the partial courses of the fabric at opposite sides of the digmond area 212 (FIGURE 9) being knit before the partial courses of the diamond area until the partial course 7 of the diamond area is knit. Then the partial courses 8 and 9 of the diamond area 212 are knit before the partial courses of the body areas of courses 8 and 9. Hererofore, the knitting of the partial courses of the body areas has preceded the knitting of the partial courses of the diamond area because the partial courses of the diamond area have been progressing in width. However, since the partial courses of the diamond area begin to decrease in width after the knitting of course 8, it is then necessary to knit the partial courses of the diamond area before knitting the partial courses of the body areas and then knit the partial courses of the body areas.

Knitting of the fabric of FIGURE 9 is continued while the width of the diamond area is reduced until the single needle in wale 9 of course 13 is formed of the yarn P-c. With completion of the complete course 13, the knitting of the diamond or pattern area 212 (FIGURE 8) and the corresponding diamond or pattern area on the opposite side of the sock S, not shown, is completed. Referring to FIGURE 9, it will be noted that the courses 2 through 7 comprise a first fabric section of complete courses in which the number of needles knitting the body yarns B--d and B-e progressively decrease in succeeding partial courses of the body areas while the number of needles knitting the pattern yarn P-c progressively increase in succeeding partial courses of the diamond or pattern area 212. Also, in the knitting of the first fabric section, the partial courses of the body yarns Bd and B-e are knit before the partial courses of the pattern area are knit of the pattern yarn Pc'. The courses 8 through 13 comprise a second fabric section of complete courses in which the number of needles knitting the body yarns B-d' and B--e progressively increase in succeeding partial courses of the body areas while the number of needles knitting the pattern yarn Pc' progressively decrease in succeeding partial courses of the diamond or pattern area 212. Also, in the knitting of the second fabric section, the partial courses of the pattern yarn P-c are knit before the partial courses of the body portions which are knit of the body yarns Bd and Be. In the courses 14 and 15, both of the body yarns Be and B--d' are knit on the three needles in wales 7, 8 and 9 to tie together the body areas at opposite sides of the diamond area and during these two courses a complete course is formed with each knitting stroke. During the formation of course 15, an additional yarn P-b is fed to the needle in wale 8 from the yarn feeding finger b to start the formation of a diamond area 213. At the beginning of the diamond area 213, it is again necessary to progressively knit partial courses of the body areas before knitting the partial courses of the diamond area 213. Thus, the partial courses of the body areas in courses 12, 13 14 and 15 are knit together before knitting the partial courses of the diamond area 213.

After knitting the body yarns in course 15, the lever 163 (FIGURE 3) is moved onto one of the medium length pattern butts 162 on the pattern disk 160 to thereby shift the stop members 182135 one-half step to the right from the position shown in FIGURE 7. This will move the stop members 182 and 184 from above the respective yarn control levers B and E so that the corresponding feed fingers b and e are then controlled by the yarn control drum 100. The control drum 100 will then allow the feeding fingers b and e to move to feeding position in timed relation with the needle cylinder and feed the pattern yarn Pb' from the yarn feeding finger b at the auxiliary feeding station 33 to the needles which form the diamond area 213 while the yarn feeding finger e will feed a pattern yarn to corresponding needles on the opposite side of the needle cylinder to form a diamond area corresponding to the diamond area 213. The knitting of the diamond area 213 then continues and is completed in the same manner as that above-described for the diamond area 212. Another diamond area 214 is then knit beneath the diamond area 213 (FIGURE 8).

When the diamond area 214 is started, it is desirable to use another color of yarn in knitting this solid color diamond area and another corresponding diamond area on the opposite side of the sock. In order to alternately feed yarns to form the lower diamond areas, the pattern disk (FIGURE 3) is provided with an area having no butts thereon so that the shaft 172 and stop members 182-185 remain in the positions shown in FIGURES 3 and 7 while the disk is provided with an area having spaced apart long butts 191 thereon. As the disk 190 is rotated, the shaft 203 is shifted one step to the left from the position shown in FIGURE 7. The stop members 207 and 209 will then move from above the respective yarn control levers A and G while the stop member 208 will move over the block operation of the yarn control lever D. When the end of the lever 192 moves onto one of the butts 191, the shaft will shift back to the position shown in FIGURE 7, whereby operation of the yarn control levers A and G will be blocked while the yarn control lever D will be free to operate. Shifting of the shaft 203 will thus allow the feeding fingers a and g to feed the pattern yarns to the needles which form the lower diamond areas and then allow the feeding fingers d and e to feed the body yarns to the needles at opposite sides of the diamond areas. Knitting of the diamond area 214 and the corresponding diamond on the other side of the sock, not shown, is carried out in the same manner as that described in knitting the diamond area 212,

Upon completion of the lower point of the diamond area 214, the machine again switches into rotary knitting and the yarn feeding finger d at the main feeding station 32 is moved into operation from the main pattern drum to feed a body yarn to all the needles in the needle cylinder and form any desired number of ring courses 215 above a heel pocket 216. The heel pocket 216 is formed by reciprocatory knitting while narrowing and then widening the fabric in a conventional manner and then a circular knit foot portion 217 is formed. After the foot portion 217 is completed, a conventional toe pocket 213, only a portion of which is shown in FIGURE 6, is formed.

In knitting the pattern area of the sock shown in FIG- URE 8, one body yarn is fed from each of the feeding stations 32 and 33 while all of the pattern yarns are fed from the auxiliary station 33 only. However, it is to be understood that some of the pattern yarns could be fed from the main feeding station, if desired and of course other yarn feeding arrangements may be utilized.

Although the knitting of only a very simple pattern has been described, it is to be understood that a wide range of complex patterns can be knit by utilizing the principles of the alternate progression system of knitting disclosed herein. The present invention may also be utilized to knit color pattern areas having straight vertical stripes or walewise suture lines. This may be accomplished by knitting two partial courses of each pattern area at the time but by advancing one pattern area only a single partial course ahead of the adjacent pattern area, and then knitting a pair of partial courses in the adjacent pattern area so that it is progressed one partial course ahead of the previous pattern area. Also, although the pattern shown is described as being knit by knitting a pair of partial courses in one area before knitting another pair of partial courses in another area, it is, of course, possible to knit the pattern areas by knitting more than a pair of partial courses before switching pattern areas being knit. For example, four partial courses of certain pattern areas may be knit before knitting a corresponding number of partial courses in certain other adjacent pattern areas.

Utilizing the improved method of knitting and the improved yarn control means disclosed herein, it is possible to produce a wide range of patterns on a solid color pattern knitting machine of the type having two spaced apart knitting stations. Also, by utilizing the alternate progression system of knitting disclosed in the present application, it is possible to knit solid color fabrics having pattern areas which have clean, clear suture lines extending between the various pattern areas.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, needles mounted for independent movement in the cylinder, a main and auxiliary feeding station positioned in diametrically opposed relationship and adjacent the needle cylinder, a plurality of yarn feeding fingers at each of said feeding stations, means for reciprocating said cylinder, needle selecting means at either side of each of said feeding stations, and primary yarn feeding finger control means comprising a plurality of intermediate levers each operable on corresponding ones of said yarn feeding fingers, a plurality of yarn change levers each operable on corresponding ones of said intermediate levers, and yarn control drums controlling operation of said yarn change levers to thereby control operation of the yarn feeding fingers at each knitting station, the combination therewith of an independently operable secondary yarn feeding finger control means positioned at each of said feeding stations for at times preventing the operation of certain of said yarn feeding fingers by said yarn control drums, and means operatively connecting each of the secondary yarn feeding finger control means to separate ones of said needle selecting means.

2. In a structure according to claim 1 wherein said secondary yarn feeding finger control means comprises stop members positioned above certain of the yarn change levers at both of said feeding stations, laterally shiftable shafts supporting said stop members at both feeding stations, and means operatively connecting the shiftable shafts to said needle selecting means to shift said stop members from above certain of the yarn change levers to a position above other of the yarn change levers.

3. In a structure according to claim 2 wherein a single laterally shiftable shaft is positioned above the yarn change levers at the main feeding station and two independently operable laterally shiftable shafts are positioned above the yarn change levers at the auxiliary feeding station.

4. A method of reciprocatorily knitting tubular fabric having suture joined solid color pattern areas on a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder adapted to reciprocate during knitting of the pattern areas, needles mounted for independent movement in the cylinder, and a single pair of knitting stations positioned in diametrically opposed relationship and adjacent the needle cylinder, said method including the steps of feeding separate yarns to at least two difierent groups of needles during a single knitting stroke of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the different groups during the single knitting stroke of the needle cylinder to thereby knit partial courses in certain of the pattern areas, feeding separate yarns to at least two other different groups of needles and to the endmost needles of the first-named groups during the next subsequent knitting stroke of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the two other difierent groups and on the endmost needles of the first-named groups during'said next subsequent knitting stroke of the needle cylinder to thereby knit partial courses in other pattern areas, and joining the partial courses of the second knit other pattern areas to the partial courses of the first knit certain pattern areas during said next subsequent knitting stroke of the needle cylinder.

5. A method of reciprocatorily knitting tubular fabric having suture joined solid color pattern areas on a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder adapted to reciprocate during knitting of the pattern areas, needles mounted for independent movement in the cylinder, and a single pair of knitting stations positioned in diametrically,

opposed relationship and adjacent the needle cylinder, said method including the steps of feeding separate yarns to at least two different spaced apart groups of needles during a single knitting stroke of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the dilferent groups during the single knitting stroke of the needle cylinder to thereby knit partial courses in certain of the pattern areas, feeding separate yarns to at least two other different groups of needles positioned between the first-named groups and to the endmost needles of the first-named groups during the next subsequent knitting stroke of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the two other diiferent groups and on the endmost needles of the firstnamed groups during said next subsequent knitting stroke of the needle cylinder to thereby knit partial coursesin other pattern areas, and joining the partial courses of the second knit other pattern areas to the partial courses of the first knit certain pattern areas during said next subsequent knitting stroke of the needle cylinder.

6. A method of reciprocatorily knitting tubular fabric having suture joined solid color pattern areas on a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder adapted to reciprocate during knitting of the pattern areas, needles mounted for independent movement in the cylinder, and a single pair of knitting stations positioned in diametrically opposed relationship and adjacent the needle cylinder, said method including the steps of feeding separate yarns to at least two different groups of needles during a first plurality of successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the different groups during each of the successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder to thereby knit a plurality of partial courses in certain of the pattern areas, feeding separate yarns to at least two other diflerent groups of needles and to the endmost needles of the first-named groups during the next plurality of succeeding knitting strokes of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the two other difierent groups and on the endmost needles of the first-named groups during each of said next succeeding knitting strokes of the needle cylinder to thereby knit a plurality of partial courses in other pattern areas, and joining at least oneof the partial courses of the second knit other pattern areas to at least one of the partial courses of the first knit certain pattern areas during at least one of said next succeeding knitting strokes of theneedle cylinder.

7. A method of reciprocatorily knitting tubular fabric having suture joined solid color pattern areas on a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder adapted to reciprocate during knitting of the pattern areas, needles mounted for independent movement in the cylinder, and a single pair of knitting stations positioned in diametrically opposed relationship and adjacent the needle cylinder, said method'including the steps of feeding separate yarns from one of said knitting stations to at least two diiferent groups of needles during a first plurality of successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder,-forming stitch loops on the needles of the different groups during each of the successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder to thereby knit a plurality of partial courses in certain of the pattern areas, feeding separate yarns from both of said knitting stations to at least two other different groups of needles and to the endmost needles of the first-named groups during the next plurality of succeeding knitting strokes of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the two other different groups and on the endmost needles of the firstnamed groups during each of said next succeeding knitting strokes of the needle cylinder to thereby knit a plurality of partial courses in other pattern areas, and joining at least one of the partial courses of the second knit other pattern areas to at least one of the partial courses of the first knit certain pattern areas during at least one of said next succeeding knitting strokes of the needle cylinder.

8. A method of reciprocatorily knitting tubular fabric having suture joined solid color pattern areas on a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder adapted to reciprocate during knitting of the pattern areas, needles mounted for independent movement in the cylinder, and a single pair of knitting stations positioned in diametrically opposed relationship and adjacent the needle cylinder, said method including the steps of feeding separate yarns from one of said knitting stations to at least two different spaced apart groups of needles during a first pair of successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the ditferent groups during each of the pair of successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder to thereby knit a pair of partial courses in each of certain of the pattern areas, feeding separate yarns to at least two other different groups of needles positioned between the first-named groups and to the endmost needles of the first-named groups during the next pair of successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the two other different groups and on the endmost needles of the first-named groups during each of said next succeeding pair of knitting strokes of the needle cylinder to thereby knit a pair of partial courses in each of the other pattern areas, and joining at least one of the partial courses of the second knit other pattern areas to at least one of the partial courses of the first knit certain pattern areas during at least one of said next succeeding knitting strokes of the needle cylinder.

9. A method of reciprocatorily knitting tubular fabric having suture joined solid color pattern areas on a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder adapted to reciprocate during knitting of the pattern areas, needles mounted for independent movement in the cylinder, and a single pair of knitting stations positioned in diametrically opposed relationship and adjacent the needle cylinder, said method including the steps of feeding separate yarns from one of said knitting stations to at least two different spaced apart groups of needles during a first plurality of successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the different groups during each of the successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder to thereby knit a plurality of partial courses in certain of the pattern areas, progressively decreasing the number of needles knitting in each of the different groups during the first plurality of knitting strokes, feeding separate yarns from both of said knitting stations to at least two other dilferent groups of needles positioned between the first-named group and to the endmost needles of the first-named groups during the next succeeding plurality of successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the two other different groups and on the endmost needles of the first-named groups during each of said next succeeding knitting strokes of the needle cylinder to thereby knit a plurality of partial courses in other pattern areas, progressively increasing the number of needles knitting in each of the other different groups during said next succeeding knitting strokes, and joining at least one 16 of the partial courses of the second knit other pattern areas to at least one of the partial courses of the first knit certain pattern areas during at least one of said next succeeding knitting strokes of the needle cylinder.

10. A method of reciprocatorily knitting a tubular fabric having a body portion and suture joined solid color pattern areas on a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder adapted to reciprocate during knitting of the pattern areas, needles mounted for independent movement in the cylinder, and a single pair of knitting stations positioned in diametrically opposed relationship and adjacent the needle cylinder, said method including the steps of feeding separate body yarns from both of said knitting stations to spaced apart groups of needles during a first plurality of successive strokes of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the spaced apart groups during each of the successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder to thereby knit a plurality of partial courses of the body portion, feeding separate pattern yarns from one of said knitting stations to at least two other different groups of needles positioned between the first-named groups and to the endmost needles of the first-named groups during the next succeeding plurality of successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the two other different groups and on the endmost needles of the firstnamed groups during each of said next succeeding knitting strokes of the needle cylinder to thereby knit a plurality of partial courses in the pattern areas, joining at least one of the partial courses of the second knit pattern areas to at least one of the partial coursesof the first knit body areas during at least one of said next succeeding knitting strokes of the needle cylinder, and repeating the foregoing steps to form at least first and second fabric sections each of which comprises a plurality of complete courses.

11. A method of reciprocatorily knitting a tubular fabric having a body portion and suture joined solid color pattern areas on a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder adapted to reciprocate during knitting of the pattern areas, needles mounted for independent movement in the cylinder, and a single pair of knitting stations positioned in diametrically opposed relationship and adjacent the needle cylinder, said method including the steps of feeding separate body yarns from both of said knitting stations to spaced apart groups of needles during a first plurality of successive strokes of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the spaced apart groups during each of the successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder to thereby knit a plurality of partial courses of the body portion, feeding separate pattern yarns from one of said knitting stations to at least two other different groups of needles positioned between the first-named groups and to the endmost needles of the first-named groups during the next succeeding plurality of successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the two other different groups and on the endmost needles of the firstnarned groups during each of said next succeeding knitting strokes of the needle cylinder to thereby knit a plurality of partial courses in the pattern areas, joining at least one of the partial courses of the second knit pattern areas to at least one of the partial courses of the first knit body areas during at least one of said next succeeding knitting strokes of the needle cylinder, repeating the foregoing steps to form at least first and second fabric sections each of which comprises a plurality of complete courses, progressively decreasing the number of needles knitting succeeding partial courses of said body areas while progressively increasing the number of needles knitting succeeding partial courses of said pattern areas during the knitting of the first fabric section, and progressively increasing the number of needles knitting succeeding partial courses of said body areas while progressively decreasing the number of needles knitting succeeding partial courses of said pattern areas during the knitting of the second fabric section.

12. A method of reciprocatorily knitting a tubular fabric having a body portion and suture joined solid color pattern areas on a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder adapted to reciprocate during knitting of the pattern areas, needles mounted for independent movement in the cylinder, and a single pair of knitting stations positioned in diametrically opposed relationship and adjacent the needle cylinder, said method including the steps of feeding separate body yarns from both of said knitting stations to spaced apart groups of needles during a first plurality of successive strokes of the needle cylinder, forming stitch lOOpS on the needles of the spaced apart groups during each of the successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder to thereby knit a plurality of partial courses of the body portion, feeding separate pattern yarns from one of said knitting stations to at least two other different groups of needles positioned between the first-named groups and to the endmost needles of the first-named groups during the next succeeding plurality of successive knitting strokes of the needle cylinder, forming stitch loops on the needles of the two other different groups and on the endniost needles of the firstnamed groups during each of said next succeeding knitting strokes of the needle cylinder to thereby knit a plurality of partial courses in the pattern areas, joining at least one of the partial courses of the second knit pattern areas to at least one of the partial courses of the first knit body areas during at least one of said next succeeding knitting strokes of the needle cylinder, repeating the foregoing steps to form at least first and secondfabric sections each of which comprises a plurality of complete courses, progressively decreasing the number of needles knitting succeeding partial courses of said body areas while progressively increasing the number of needles knitting succeeding partial courses of said pattern areas during the knitting of the first fabric section, progressively increasing the number of needles knitting succeeding partial courses of said body areas while progressively decreasing the number of needles knitting succeeding partial courses of said pattern areas during the knitting of the second fabric section, knitting the partial courses of said body portions before the partial courses of said pattern areas during the knitting of the first fabric section, and knitting the partial courses of said pattern areas beforegthe partial courses of said body portions during the knitting of the second fabric section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,217,022 Lawson et al Oct. 8, 1940 2,709,351 Bouthillette et al May 31, 1955 2,800,782 Bridges July 30, 1957 2,834,192 St. Pierre et al May 13, 1958 2,860,500 Crawford Nov. 18, 1958 2,959,946 Levin Nov. 15, 1960 

